Role of the Local Governing Board

The Department for Education states that Governing Bodies –

“….are the strategic leaders of our schools and have a vital role to play in making sure every child gets the best possible education. For maintained schools this is reflected in the law, which states that the purpose of maintained school governing bodies is to ‘conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement at the school’.

In all types of schools, governing bodies should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:

a. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;

b. Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; and

c. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

These functions are reflected in regulations for maintained schools that came into force in September 2013.”

We have a strategic role in the development of the school but are not involved in the day-to-day management – that is the role of the Headteacher. We are accountable to the wider community for the conduct of the school and in turn hold the school leadership group to account for raising standards and ensuring every child fulfils their potential. We are a diverse group of people with a wide variety of skills and experience which, coupled with our knowledge of the school, we use to challenge and support the leadership group in their work.

Local Governing Board Organisation

The Local Governing Board consists of seven community Governors, seven parent Governors, three staff Governors and the Headteacher as ex officio Governor.

The Local Governing Board meets three times a year. At each meeting we receive a report from the Headteacher and minutes from the various committees. Other items are discussed or approved at specific times of the year for example exam results, plan for school improvement and budget.

The Local Governing Board is supported by three main committees which meet once each half term.

The Resources Committee is concerned with budget and finance, premises and health and safety

The Strategic Committee, comprising the chairs of the above committees plus the chair of governors which plans the work of the committees and there are also three other sub-committees which report to the Governing Body on specific areas – i.e. the Admissions Committee and the Health and Safety Committee.

All governors are members of at least one of the committee. We also attend public events such as secondary transfer evening, school play performances, music concerts, the annual Awards Evening, prize-giving assemblies and PTCs. Please come and talk with Governors while you are at these events.

In addition, each Governor is linked to a faculty or specific area of school such as Child Protection, SEND and the High Starters programme. In this role Governors regularly come into school to meet with staff and students.